Locke provided several key components towards the construction of a concrete dock platform down in Freeport, TX for the LNG industry. Originally, the concrete dock system was designed with a pour-in-place concrete beam system supported with concrete piles. However, in a design/build effort,Locke collaborated with the customer to develop precast concrete pier cap beams, which ultimately reduced both project schedule and cost.

To achieve this, our engineering team used 3D modeling tools to ensure a perfect fit between precast components and to eliminate potential conflicts during construction.

The final scope included 9 large beam sections, each weighing up to 215,000 lbs and stretching as long as 70 feet. In addition, 40 precast concrete deck panels were installed to span the beams, creating a working platform and completing the 100’ x 100’ dock system.

Hundreds of bar couplers were used to aid in closure pours between beams and the entire concrete system was produced with exposed reinforcing steel and the surfaces were treated to create a roughened surface to adhere to the final “bathtub” concrete pour to finish off the top surface. All of these precast elements were produced and shipped from our facility here in Houston, TX.